What wonderful sounds and sights to wake up to! No snow and the oil man making his way up the drive! He had decided to come to us first today before it snowed. Luckily the tanker made it up the drive through the car park and into the courtyard and back to the road without any problems. I can sleep tonight! Stayed misty and cold all day with flurries of snow but no real covering. No guests in or out so day to do some paper work for dad, chat to guests and chat to my sister. Working in A&E X Ray she has been very busy the last few days added to which the only way for her to get to work has been by walking, normally a 30 min walk in the best of weathers but lengthened by current conditions. Sat down for 9pm and watched CSI from the other night.

At least no more snow overnight and Chris took dogs for their walk while I dealt with emails. Had eye tests arranged in Buxton and luckily roads were clear enough for the drive there although the pavements were still slushy in Buxton. By time both of us had had our tests and chosen new frames it was time for a early lunch. Came back via Chelmorton where we had a chat with Margaret re our potential new logo. By the time w got back to Bolehill the sun was shining and there was evidence of a partial melt. The forecast for tomorrow by now was for up to a foot of snow in the Peak District. Was getting worried as with no oil delivery and low temperatures our supply of oil was dwindling fast and if there was a severe snow fall there could be the risk of power cuts too. Another cottage in today and it had already been cleaned. They arrived about 5pm. After dinner I hosted the WI committee meeting here. Geoff also called in to see Chris so we had a very full car park!

A white scene greeted us this morning at Bolehill. Reckoned there was about 6in snow. With one cottage out and one back in the job started of making sure guests could get in and out. A couple of our guests helped with shovels and once Andrew arrived he cleared the drive with his snow plough on the tractor. Still we were outside clearing up for a few hours. One cleaner up today and she was able to confirm that the drive was passable. Took lots of pics so you can see them in the picture gallery. http://www.bolehillfarm.co.uk/picture_gallery.htm Everything ready for guests arrival just after 5pm. An early dinner then went with one of cleaners to Youlgreave to see the annual pantomime that the villagers put on in the village hall. Her daughters were taking part. It has a good reputation and it was a good evening. Luckily the roads were passable too despite the earlier snow.

Woke up and a light covering of snow at Bolehill but nothing to cause any problems but scheduled cleaner wary of snow so Chris and I cleaned the cottage needed for this afternoon. Went down to Bakewell to the market but unfortunately only a few stalls there. Took the dogs so they had a walk around an unusually quiet Bakewell. Got a few supplies in case can’t get down for a few days. Called into Andrews on the way back to place an order for a snow plough in the morning as we have a cottage in and out tomorrow too. Back for lunchtime weather forecast which indicated that we may not get as bad a snowfall as first predicted. Dustmen came but laundry didn’t (more snow their way) but we cancelled oil delivery to be safe (last thing we need is an oil tanker going through a wall). Postman was last person to make it up and down drive just after 2.30 before snow started. Chris had to pull three cars up the drive – including our new guests. Luckily they all turned up in quick succession but it still took the best part of an hour to sort everyone out. Although the snow was not heavy the wind was blowing it around so in some places it looked very deep and in others there was none at all. Evening went in cooking, phoning a friend and tidying up paperwork and making a list for tomorrow. Number 1 – find sledges!

A bitterly cold day. One cottage out and one cottage back in but this has already been cleaned. Down to Bakewell to get the paper and took bottles down as we had space in the car. When back finally put the last of the Xmas lights up in the loft. Had a few odd jobs to do in the vacant cottages and after lunch mainly jobs around the house and some personal jobs too. Guests arrived about 4pm. After cooking a roast dinner sat down for Larkrise to Candleford.

A bright but cold day with eyes on the weather forecast! Chris took dogs for walk so I could do laundry before going to Farmers Market and walking into Bakewell to do banking now that NatWest is open on Saturday. One cleaner up today and one cottage in. Back for coffee and after lunch loaded up a dead fridge to take to recycling facility at Ashbourne. Knowing that our guests wouldn’t be arriving until the evening meant we could go out for a couple of hours. Had turned hazy by now as we had contemplated a walk now that the evenings are getting lighter. Down at Ashbourne we went to the new Homebase and also Halfords before walking around the town and stopping for a coffee at the Gallery Cafe (www.sjsg.co.uk) a winner of the Derbyshire Cafe of the Year. Back home and guests arrived after dinner about 7.30. They have been here a number of times both in cottages and B&B. Dealt with emails and made a list of things to do tomorrow before sitting down at 8.30.

Another day of curtains, cushion covers… Two cottages out and one back in with one cleaner up. Cottage not due in until evening so time to get on with jobs. Amazing how quick the day goes sometimes. Cottage arrived just before 8pm and sat down at 9.30. Five minutes later phone goes and by time dealt with booking and late evening emails that had started to arrive it was 10.30 so no sit down for me this evening.

A continuation of yesterday except it was a very foggy start. Very spooky when I was in the field and couldn’t see any features to work out where I was. Two cleaners up from Monday to finish off a deep clean in one of the cottages. Washed more curtains and ironed some and started hanging them back up. One cottage out and one back in arriving about 3pm. More or less finished putting things back in Honeysuckle. Chris went to Over Haddon for his digital photography session. After dinner caught up with bookings and emails and sat down at 9.30.

A busy day and also a bright and mild day. More curtains and cushion covers washed and a bit of tidying up. Chatting with guests and with Honeysuckle almost complete was able to make a start on cleaning and putting things back. One cleaner up in the evening to help finish of the cleaning. Finished about 7pm then cooked dinner and caught up with emails and bookings so didn’t sit down until 10pm. Too tired to blog. One of the days with the highest number of hits on www.bolehillfarm.co.uk

A foggy start so a ‘dog in the fog’ walk which means sometimes I cant see where the dogs are but at least they come back to the whistle (usually). Handyman up today and they put the new dishwasher in Magpie and the existing one from Magpie into Honeysuckle. Honeysuckle will be finished tomorrow. Went down to Bakewell and took Blue with me. Back and after lunch washed a couple of pairs of curtains from an empty cottage. Now I’ve washed them I will have to iron them before they can go back up. Kept up to date with Dad’s paper work and phoned a friend. An early dinner so Chris could go and help someone in Over Haddon with their computer. Took a number of bookings today. We continually review our advertising and at the moment I am spending time on the Internet looking at cottage rental sites to see if I can find any others that would be useful to advertise on. Sat down for CSI.